Colorado Matters

Today and yesterday, we heard from the men who wish to represent Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District which includes Pueblo, Grand Junction and Durango. Today, Democrat Dwayne Romero. You can also listen to the interview with his challenger, Republican incumbent Jeff Hurd, here. Then, it's technically Colorado's largest reservoir, but drought has drained Blue Mesa. We also remember the musical legacy of Bruce Odland who found wonder inside an old water tank in Rangely. And we visit what was once known as the Fruit Belt of the Front Range ahead of Cider Days in Lakewood.

Today and tomorrow, we hear from the men who wish to represent Colorado's 3rd Congressional District which includes Pueblo, Grand Junction and Durango. We begin with the incumbent, Republican Jeff Hurd. You can also listen to the interview with his challenger, Democrat Dwayne Romero, here. Then, she traded in the basketball court at CSU for the comedy stage; Ryan speaks with Leslie Jones about her start in Fort Collins to her time on SNL and beyond as she returns to Colorado for shows in Pueblo and Denver Friday and Saturday. 

The Colorado Book Awards honor our state's authors — in categories ranging from fiction to creative non-fiction, children's to poetry. Winners were announced over the weekend at The Tivoli in Denver. Senior Host Ryan Warner delivered the keynote and takes us on a literary road trip.

What does Crocs, a company based in Colorado, have in common with the tiny European country of Malta? It turns out a lot, if you look at taxes and how companies try to avoid them. New York Times investigative reporter Jesse Drucker spoke with CPR's Andrea Dukakis. Then, FEMA denies a portion of Colorado’s disaster aid request after this summer's wildfires. Plus, Democrats canvas the Western Slope to get people to vote. And for our series "Aging Matters," a 78-year-old Alamosa man reflects on how his father's small act of kindness had a lifetime of impact. 

With just about 40 days 'til the election, the CPR voter guide is here. Ballots go out Friday. Editor Alejandro Alonso Galva helped put it together — with contributions from every corner of the newsroom. Then, Purplish takes a road trip to meet voters in many of the state's congressional districts. 

Seasons lose their meaning – to some extent – because of climate change. It may be autumn, but Denver will see highs in the 80s this weekend. Then a change is coming. We talk about it with Lisa Hidalgo, chief meteorologist at Denver7, and the prospects for snow this winter. Then, what can Congress do in response to wildfires? Plus crunching the housing numbers. And Indie 102.3 celebrates Colorado artists ahead of the Local 303 Meetup on Monday at Bar 404 in Denver.

National Public Lands day is this weekend, and how those lands are managed, could be changing. Public lands writer Jonathan Thompson discusses shrinking monuments, roadless rules and other changes to land policy -- and the future of water tapped from the Colorado River. Then, Colorado's deep-rooted tattoo culture. Also, Colorado Wonders about an Old West bank robber who -- legend has it -- was shot and killed by her sheriff husband. 

Ben VanderWerf, a scrappy father of four, chose Arriba, Colorado, population 202, to locate his tiny home business and related RV park. He landed a Rural Jump-Start grant from the state— Lincoln County's first. With VanderWerf and local economic development chief Troy McCue, we discuss housing, employment, energy, and water on Colorado's Eastern Plains. 

When six people died on the job at a dairy farm in Weld County last year, it raised questions about both worker safety and dignity. Latino USA takes a closer look at what happened and why in the podcast "To Live and Die as a Colorado Farmworker" hosted by producer Rebeca Ibarra. Then, a Boulder tech company is back to help startups find their footing. And Colorado Wonders about hummingbirds in the wake of wildfires, plus what you can do to help. 

It was a weekend of debates and campaigning on the Western Slope, but who wasn't there is also a part of the story. Then, what it's like to be a woman in the trades. You'll meet a welder training at Emily Griffith as the DPS technical school turns 110 years old and welcomes its first president. Plus, he's been Hollywood's bug wrangler for decades; now he's heading to Colorado for the annual Tarantula Festival in La Junta.